What Is Microneedling & Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy, and Why Should You Get It Done?

What Is Microneedling & Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy, and Why Should You Get It Done?

What Is Microneedling & Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy, and Why Should You Get It Done?

January 31, 2017admin

Here at the Center for Plastic Surgery, we’re all about safe, quick, affordable and effective treatments that result with you feeling rejuvenated and more confident with little or no recovery time. Why not, right?

Microneedling is a treatment used to trigger new collagen production (collagen: the main structural protein in our skin). Basically, when new collagen is produced, our skin is healthier and fuller — and new collagen reduces things like acne scars, stretch marks, fine lines and pore size.

The way we trigger new collagen production is actually by breaking the skin, ever so slightly, so the skin goes into repair mode. We do this in a way that is quick, minimally invasive and non-chemical. We apply a thin layer of sterile saline to your skin and then press and glide a small device with fine needles on the end across your skin, so the needles puncture the skin ever so slightly (we call this a controlled skin injury). Immediately after the procedure, which lasts about 15–30 minutes, you skin may be red for a few days, but then it will settle down as the new, fresh collagen is produced. Trust us, your face will look and feel fresher in a matter of days.

Okay, so What Is Platelet Rich Plasma?

Microneedling & Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy is one of our favorite treatments, because it takes all the ease and benefits of microneedling and goes one step further. Platelet-rich plasma is essentially blood (yours!), which consists of the liquid (plasma) as well as small solid components of red cells, white cells and platelets. Platelets encourage blood clotting (basically what stops you from continuing to bleed after an injury), and they also contain growth proteins, which help you heal.

Just as in microneedling, in this procedure we produce controlled skin injuries through the use of the needles. However, in this case, we also use the needles to inject a client’s own blood back into their skin to encourage increased collagen production and new blood flow. To make sure there is a high platelet concentration in the blood, we draw a client’s blood, separate the platelets and increase their concentration through a process called centrifugation, and then mix the platelets back into the remaining blood.

The entire process of microneedling — and microneedling with platelet rich plasma — is quick, easy and relatively painless (it almost feels like sandpaper is being rubbed on your skin and then in a flash it is over, leaving you with fresh, younger-looking skin and undoubtedly a big smile). Want to know more? Visit our services page to learn about pricing and to make an appointment today!